Luminescent apparatus and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides a luminescent apparatus having a bright, high-quality image. A reflecting surface-including electrode, and an EL element formed of an organic EL layer and a transparent electrode are provided on an insulator. As shown in FIG. 1 , an auxiliary electrode 107 formed of a transparent conductive film is connected to the transparent electrode via a conductor. This structure enables a resistance value of the transparent electrode 104 to be substantially lowered, and a uniform voltage to be applied to the organic EL layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A luminescent apparatus comprising: 
       a substrate;  
       a first electrode having a reflective surface formed over the substrate;  
       an organic electro luminescence layer formed over the first electrode;  
       a transparent electrode formed over the organic electro luminescence layer;  
       a plurality of conductive layers disposed separately over each other, and formed on the transparent electrode; and  
       an auxiliary electrode formed over the plurality of conductive layers,  
       wherein the auxiliary electrode is electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the plurality of conductive layers.  
     
     
       2. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film. 
     
     
       3. A luminescent apparatus comprising: 
       a substrate;  
       a first electrode having a reflective surface over the substrate;  
       an organic electro luminescence layer over the first electrode;  
       a transparent electrode over the organic electro luminescence layer;  
       an anisotropic conductor over the transparent electrode; and  
       an auxiliary electrode formed over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.  
     
     
       4. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film. 
     
     
       5. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 3 , wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
     
     
       6. A luminescent apparatus comprising: 
       a substrate;  
       a switching TFT formed over the substrate;  
       a current control TFT electrically connected to the switching TFT;  
       a first electrode having a reflective surface formed over the current control TFT;  
       an organic electro luminescence layer formed over the first electrode;  
       a transparent electrode formed over the organic electro luminescence layer;  
       an anisotropic conductor formed over the transparent electrode; and  
       an auxiliary electrode formed over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.  
     
     
       7. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film. 
     
     
       8. The luminescent apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
     
     
       9. A luminescent apparatus comprising: 
       an electro luminescence element comprising an electrode having a reflective surface, a transparent electrode and an organic electro luminescence layer interposed therebetween;  
       an auxiliary electrode electrically connected to the transparent electrode via an anisotropic conductor,  
       wherein the electrode having a reflective surface is formed by laminating a metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other and the transparent electrode is formed by laminating a translucent metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other.  
     
     
       10. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the translucent metallic film has a thickness of 5-70 nm. 
     
     
       11. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said a luminescent apparatus is an apparatus selected from the group consisting of a personal computer, a TV, a video camera, a digital camera, a goggle type display, a navigation system, a music reproducer and game machine. 
     
     
       12. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film. 
     
     
       13. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
     
     
       14. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein an organic electro luminescence layer is provided in contact with the transparent conductive film included in the electrode having a reflective surface and the translucent metallic film. 
     
     
       15. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the translucent metallic film has a thickness of 5-70 nm. 
     
     
       16. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus comprising the steps of: 
       forming a reflecting surface-including electrode on an insulator,  
       forming an organic electro luminescence layer on the reflecting surface-including electrode, forming a transparent electrode on the organic electro luminescence layer,  
       forming an anisotropic conductor on the transparent electrode,  
       forming an auxiliary electrode on a seal member, and  
       pasting the insulator and seal member on each other so that the anisotropic conductor and auxiliary electrode are connected together,  
       wherein the reflecting surface-including electrode is formed by laminating a metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other and the transparent electrode is formed by laminating a translucent metallic film and a transparent conductive film on each other.  
     
     
       17. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein a thickness of the translucent metallic film is set to 5-70 nm. 
     
     
       18. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 16 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film. 
     
     
       19. A luminescent apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of pixels, each of the plurality of pixels comprising:  
       at least one thin film transistor over a substrate;  
       a first electrode having a reflective surface over the substrate and electrically connected to the at least one thin film transistor; and  
       an organic electro luminescence layer over the first electrode,  
       a transparent electrode over the plurality of pixels;  
       an anisotropic conductor over the transparent electrode; and  
       an auxiliary electrode over the anisotropic conductor and electrically connected to the transparent electrode via the anisotropic conductor.  
     
     
       20. A luminescent apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the anisotropic conductor comprises a resin in which conductive particles are dispersed. 
     
     
       21. A method of manufacturing a luminescent apparatus according to  claim 19 , wherein the auxiliary electrode is formed of a transparent conductive film.